Architectural Alliance designed the 128,199 SF University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) building, a warehouse renovation. The project is part of an initiative by the State, University of MN and University Foundation to foster bioscience industry growth in Minnesota.

The design team transformed a vacant warehouse into a state-of-the-art bioscience incubator. Emerging bioscience companies will be able to lease laboratories that are equipped with the infrastructure and equipment to conduct a wide range of research. One of the design challenges involved creating flexible space that will suit current as well as future tenants, allowing for expansion.

Architectural Alliance created a central, skylit bioscience garden (right), that forms a central space for tenants to meet and interact. The garden provides daylight for laboratories and contains shared meeting rooms, café/vending amenities and administrative support services.

The design also seeks to provide identity for UEL that is visible from the outside. A bold, new canopy element (below) contrasts with the warehouse setting and connects the main entry to the interior bioscience garden.

There are 21 laboratories in the building, representing 21 different research efforts and/or companies. Much of the common spaces, such as conference rooms and offices, are shared in order to reduce the costs of conducting new research methodologies and creating
new products.